Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/910

850, and his grandfather, Oney Edwards, having served in the war of 1812. His father, a business man of Portsmouth, who survived until 1864, married Mary A., daughter of Capt. James Wanghop, of the merchant marine. At the outbreak of the Confederate war Mr. Edwards held the office of lumber inspector for the city, and was a member of the Portsmouth Rifle company, with which he went into active service on April 20, 1861. He served several months at Pig Point, and took part in the artillery fight with the Federal vessel, the Harriet Lane. In April, 1862, he marched with his company to South Mills to reinforce three regiments of Georgia troops under Colonel Wright, and subsequently moved to Petersburg and Richmond and participated in the battle of Seven Pines. He was frequently in action during the Seven Days' campaign and shared the gallant and fatal assault upon the Federal works at Malvern Hill. Advancing northward with Longstreet's corps, he was in the battles of Warrenton Springs, Second Manassas, Harper's Ferry and Sharpsburg, and in December following was in the Fredericksburg fight. Remaining at Fredericksburg until the spring of 1863 he then participated in the Suffolk campaign of Longstreet's corps, marching through rain and snow. From Hanover Junction he marched with his division through Maryland and on the afternoon of July 2d, camped within two miles of the field of Gettysburg. On the afternoon of the next day he took part in the famous assault upon Cemetery hill, after lying five hours under an intense sun and exposed to the enemy's artillery fire. He was one of the six men of his company left to report for duty on the following day. On the retreat he guarded the last body of Federal prisoners brought across the Potomac. During the fall and winter he was with his command at Petersburg and at Kinston, N. C., and took part in General Pickett's expedition against New Bern. Thence called to the defense of Petersburg, Corporal Edwards fought in May, 1864, at Chester Station and Drewry's Bluff against Butler, in the latter battle receiving severe wounds. Subsequently he was on duty as quartermaster-sergeant under Major Myers at Salisbury prison, and on guard at Yadkin river bridge until his petition to return to the front was granted. He rejoined his command on the Bermuda Hundred line in November, 1864, but was soon afterward sent to the field infirmary, was examined and retired, and in February was transferred to Charlotte, N. C. He was paroled with Johnston's army, and then returned to Portsmouth, which has since been his home. Under the first administration of Mr. Cleveland he held the office of lumber inspector at the navy yard. He is highly regarded by his comrades and maintains a membership in Stonewall camp, Confederate Veterans. In 1862 he was married to Elizabeth A. Brittingham and they have three children: Vara, Lizzie and Newton.

Captain Oscar Edmonds Edwards, of Norfolk, president of the Virginia Pilot association, is a son of Maj. Oscar Edmonds Edwards, seaman, soldier and merchant, who was prominent in the earlier days of that Virginia port. The latter was born in Surry county, Va., in 1807. At the age of sixteen he was appointed midshipman in the United States navy, but, not fancying the position, he resigned and took ship for New Orleans, where, on learning of the death of his father, he bound himself to the captain as an